ProPublica Exposed: A Pseudo Alternative with $26 Million Dollars in Secret Mega-Donors Funding

Update & Notes-Here is what you can do to show your power (People Power): After reading this article and reviewing the official documents, if you believe ProPublica has taken your money under false pretenses: 1- Contact ProPublica and ask for a refund with interest; 2- Report to PayPal if you believe you were charged under false pretenses; 3-Put the word out, issue alerts, and raise awareness to prevent further victimization.

On September 7, 2013, the daring website, Cryptome, published and publicized the tax reports filed by one of the dime-a-dozen pseudo alternative online publications-ProPublica. The stunning IRS 990 forms filed by this new flashy tax-exempt online news organization expose a secretive operation funded by millions of dollars received from secret entities:

That is correct. ProPublica, in the first three years of its existence and operation, has received $26,000,000 (26 Million Dollars) funding from secret donors.

The tax-exempt, 501 (C) (3) NGO was established and began operation in June 2008. When you look at the established date of their operation, and their first 990 tax form filed in 2009, you see that, right from the start, before even establishing any track record, their founders-operators were able to collect $6,000,000.

ProPublica was founded by Paul Steiger, the former managing editor of The Wall Street Journal

Propublica is managed and led by Stephen Engelberg, the former investigative editor of The New York Times

Propublica is run and directed by Richard Tofel, the former assistant publisher of The Wall Street Journal

Let’s sum it up: Three individuals, major participants and players from the US mainstream media, from entities long known as intimate propaganda arms of the US government, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, got together and said: The alternative media is taking off with the public, so let’s set up shop and pose as one. After all, the establishment is smart enough to not put all its eggs in one basket-in this case, the mainstream outlet.

With their established record as mainstream players who understood the importance of government-imposed propaganda and the role of controlled opposition fronts, the trio set up shop with window-dressing that distorted them and made them look like a Watch-Dog Independent Alternative media outlet – in a posh office with an Uber Expensive Manhattan address.

Right from the start, with the government and the establishment’s backing they positioned them in the forefront as a major player by: 1-quickly securing $6,000,000 upfront seed money from secret donors; 2-smoothly establishing their shop-business as a tax-exempt 501 (C) (3) NGO with the US government

Isn’t it amazing how a supposedly alternative watchdog that is supposedly working to expose dark secret deals for greater transparency and public awareness happens to be a mega-funded business with secret mega-donors?!

I tried my best to comb through their site, hoping to get a glimpse of these generous funders who have given ProPublica $26,000,000. But, no such luck. If I were a betting woman, I’d put my money on the same-o-same-o mega corporate foundations- the 1%: Soros, Rockefellers, Carnegie, Ford … You know who we’re looking at and talking about here, no?

I would say that even more appalling than having $26,000,000 from secret donors is the fact that ProPublica wants much more: They want uninformed and gullible individuals, our average hard-working Janes & Johns, to dish out donations and recurring subscriptions, and enrich the already very rich operators of this so-called alternative business. How bold and daring of ProPublica!

Think about it, during these tough economic times, while even the mainstream is struggling to make ends meet (despite backing from billionaires, government and corporate advertisers), ProPublica has received $26, 000,000 and more from its secret admirers within the mega-billionaire circle. Why? Since when do the Uber Corporate players and their foundations have a desire for transparency-seeking and Pro-Public media sources? Obviously, they don’t want any transparency when it comes to their money and where their mega-dollars go. Otherwise, why remain so very anonymous and secret? Right?

Last week I wrote a commentary on the one and only way to operate as a true alternative media source: 100% independence from the corporations, foundations, NGOs and the partisan machines- 100% reliance on public sponsorship and support.

As I have repeatedly stated here at Boiling Frogs Post, to be an independent alternative is to be financially independent of corporate money and agenda-driven foundation-NGO money strings. Okay, so let’s say we throw out the venues such as corporate advertisement, corporate foundation (Think Soros, Rockefeller, Ford …) grants and funds, and government-provided tax strings aka NGO traps. Then how do we expect our alternative model to survive and sustain itself?

…

Who does this We mean? Because there are some mega-corporate players who seem very willing and ready to subsidize media: George Soros does. Rockefellers, Carnegie, Ford … all do. That is, as long as the alternative is NOT an alternative and the information is NOT independent. You want to read or listen to what Soros or Rockefellers want you to read or listen to, then be my guest – go and pick any of many-dozens of outlets posing as alternatives. You know who I am talking about, no?

Because the only subsidization that makes an alternative real and independent is the people. That’s right. It has to come from the people: we the people. There is no way around it. We can’t have it both ways: demand and seek real independent alternatives, yet, not be willing to support those who qualify as such.

I would say it is time for people to contact this pseudo alternative and ask for a refund with interest included. I knew the nature of this Wall Street enterprise right from the start. However, had I naively contributed to their enterprise, thinking of it as Pro-Public, I would be screaming for my hard-earned money back. We should all be thankful to Cryptome for this huge exposé.

And on a final note, when you look at ProPublica’s gloating of their fame, you see how the ex-partners and teammates of ProPublica operators have been raving about this supposed alternative competitor-from CNN Money to the New York Times, Atlantic and Guardian. Why wouldn’t they? After all, as misery loves company, so does the infesting bacteria of the government’s propaganda machine.

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*Author’s note: Boiling Frogs Post is an independent nonpartisan news organization that is 100% subsidized by its individual readers’ subscription and donations. We do not receive a single penny from the corporates, advertisers, foundations, NGOs or partisan operations. Please support us: This is the only model that is qualified as alternative and independent. Thank you.

Sibel Edmonds is the Publisher & Editor of Boiling Frogs Post and the author of the Memoir Classified Woman: The Sibel Edmonds Story. She is the recipient of the 2006 PEN Newman's Own First Amendment Award for her “commitment to preserving the free flow of information in the United States in a time of growing international isolation and increasing government secrecy” Ms. Edmonds has a MA in Public Policy and International Commerce from George Mason University, a BA in Criminal Justice and Psychology from George Washington University

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I am a new member of Boiling Frogs and just finished reading your book, “Classified Woman”. Thank you Sibel, for the courage and determination you have shown to reveal the truth and live a holy life! I also wish to thank your father and husband who helped instill and sustain your courage. And thanks to all associated with Boiling Frogs, especially James Corbett.

Along with my recent donation, I would like to offer help for “our group”, by way of special prayers and perhaps suggest ways to call down the grace of God for help in this special battle.

Today is the birthday of Our Blessed Mother Mary, the humble and ever active Mother of Jesus. One way to imitate Her is to practice the virtue of humility so that we lessen the effects of pride on us and those around us. If we can win the grace of humility for our enemies, they will become our friends.

So the way we can practice becoming more humble is this: when someone says “Thank you”, simply reply “Your welcome.” This encourages gracious behavior and begins a love that sooths the Heart of Jesus, enabling Him to send more graces to us all.

To all my friends at Boiling Frogs, remember to say, “Your welcome.” Do this as a birthday present to Our Blessed Mother Mary.

“In response to a request for the applications for 67 different nonprofits last November, the Cincinnati office of the IRS sent ProPublica applications or documentation for 31 groups. Nine of those applications had not yet been approved—meaning they were not supposed to be made public. (We made six of those public, after redacting their financial information, deeming that they were newsworthy.)”